Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 November 2021
229. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which the housing needs demands assessment is being used to determine the level of need for affordable housing in each local authority area in tabular form; and the affordability challenge for each local authority area as determined by the HNDA tool. [58423/21]
View answerObjective 37 of the National Planning Framework provides for a Housing Needs Demand Assessment (HDNA) by local authorities to ensure their respective long-term strategic housing needs are met. The HNDA is a standardised methodology which quantifies current and projected housing needs of local authority areas, including requirements for different tenures.
Nationally, the proportion of households identified by the HNDA with “affordability constraints” is c.12.5% of total demand arising over the next five years. Not all local authority areas have such a high level of affordably constrained demand. In many areas, sufficient housing is available at prices new households can afford to pay and their HNDAs identify demand with an affordability constraint at a low level or at 0%. However, other local authority areas have significantly higher house prices and affordability constraints greater than 20% of total housing demand. Local authorities are currently at various stages in the preparation of their HNDAs.
The Government has committed in Housing for All to deliver 18,000 Cost Rental Homes and 36,000 Affordable Purchase homes by 2030. This will make a real difference to families experiencing affordability issues and is additional to other Government supports helping prospective house buyers meet the cost of purchasing their own homes, including the national First Home Scheme, Help to Buy and Local Authority Home Loans.
